Abstract

Background: History of epilepsy is intertwined with the chronicles of humankind, with millions of people worldwide living with epilepsy, still the current available antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) only suppress seizures without correcting the natural course of epilepsy. Growing limitations of available AEDs have motivated this study to divert our attention towards other safe and natural resources available for the treatment of epilepsy.

Aim and Objective: This study aims to investigate the antiepileptic and cognition-enhancing effects of Citrus aurantium (CA) in a mouse model of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced generalized tonic–clonic seizures.

Materials and Methods: Kindling was induced by administering 35 mg/kg PTZ to 6-month-old Swiss albino mice for 28 days. Mice were divided into following groups: PTZ control group; CA peel extract group, and Valproic acid (VA) group. The methods used for validating the antiepileptic and cognition-enhancing effects were Behavioral seizure evaluation and Cook’s pole climbing apparatus.

Results: Acute treatment with CA effectively attenuated the seizures induced by PTZ. The antiepileptic and cognition-enhancing effects of CA peel extract were comparable with the standard treatment, that is, VA.

Conclusion: CA showed remarkable antiepileptic and memory-enhancing effects in PTZ-induced seizures and the effects were comparable to VA.

Key words: Epilepsy; Citrus aurantium; Pentylenetetrazole; Behavioral seizure evaluation; Cook’s pole climbing apparatus